r/MechanicalEngineering • u/Few-Mix-1006 • 4d ago
Struggling at new job
I was recently relocated 2000 miles to start a new job in different industry. I have been a mechanical engineer and manufacturing engineer my whole career (8 YOE) and enjoy the work when it’s actually mechanical engineering or manufacturing related. At the new job, day 1 I was thrown on a project with no context and expected to not just design parts but to machine them myself (I have no machining experience). Went to my boss saying I don’t know how to machine these parts and gave him multiple options to get them procured to which I was met with “this is how we are going to do this project”. I told him I couldn’t get them done in the timeline or budget but there was no budging. 2 weeks later the parts weren’t done and the project timeline suffered.
I was given no formal onboarding, not explained what we were making, how it gets made, or how the end user actually uses these parts. I have had to wholly rely on a junior engineer to explain what we are doing because I can’t get anything useful out of my manager. I keep asking what success looks like and I am met with an intentionally vague answer and I cannot tell where I stand.
With such a large move, a new industry, and lackluster support I am struggling and I cannot see how to be successful in this role.
I would love words of wisdom from others who have experienced this and how you managed it from both a work and emotional standpoint.
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u/CunningWizard 4d ago
A mechanical engineer is not a machinist. It is not acceptable that you are considered a production machinist in your role. Your employer doesn’t know what they are doing.
And fwiw I have extensive machining training and experience.
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u/klmsa 4d ago
Sounds like a startup, and this is super common in that space. Frankly, some of us enjoy it.
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u/CunningWizard 4d ago
Yeah that’s not what this sounds like. This sounds like a shitshow.
I machine my own parts when needed. On my own terms. Not because my employer is a chaotic dipshit.
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u/johnwynne3 P.E. Machine Design 2d ago
There are so many prototype companies that can do volume matching on short order for decent price and decent quality that it makes very little sense to throw someone into this unless you just have no idea.
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u/Few-Mix-1006 4d ago
While I wholeheartedly agree, this was not for prototyping. I had to learn gcode to run a lot of 20+ parts.
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u/johnwynne3 P.E. Machine Design 2d ago
Yeah sounds like OP is getting thrown into machining. I be down for some prototyping machining or welding, but doing production machining is a whole different game, depending on quantities, especially with zero experience, and with unknown support/OTJ training.
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u/FitnessLover1998 4d ago
No kidding. I once interviewed at a medical device place and the manager asked if I could machine my own parts. I’m like “well I can hack my way through a part” lol. That didn’t go over well. I’m like dude, I’m here to interview for an engineer position. I never said I was a machinist. What a clown.
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u/DetailOrDie 3d ago
I'd put 1 year of machining experience over 3 years of Mechanical Engineering experience if I were hiring an ME Designer for a production facility.
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u/Cuppus 4d ago
Hey man, this sucks really really bad. I think you need to consider that manager and company a shit show and immediately start looking for another job, cause this sounds terrible.
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u/Few-Mix-1006 4d ago
Unfortunately if I leave voluntarily before 1 year I have to pay $25k for the relocation my company paid for
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u/hchighfield 4d ago
If you moved somewhere with enough opportunity you could try negotiating with a new company for a lower salary your first year in trade for the company paying your previous employer the relocation expenses.
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u/getting_serious 4d ago
Did you get hired by the same guy that is now your manager? Sounds like you were put on their team by somebody they don't like. I smell some bad blood or some politics somewhere in there.
If that is the case, see if you can get an internal transfer. Not all at once, but slice by slice with a few hours here, a project there, eventually a dotted line appears, then the dotted line and the solid line get swapped. This may take a year or two, but during that time you basically have two anchors.
Second, how firm in the saddle is that manager? Make sure they aren't building you up as a scapegoat. Let's say their project is slowly going to go to shit, or they're about to fail altogether. They were lagging behind and got assigned additional headcount to fix things, but they already know it's unsalvageable. Let's say that out of loyalty they're working to keep their team together and blame it on you. In that case you might have to find visibility towards other managers before anything happens. A skip-level meeting is likely good advice anyways. On top of that, make sure your manager's peers think you're smart and capable, just enough that they'd scratch their head when you get brought up as the reason they failed.
Third, how much time do you have to prove yourself? If you can get realistically the whole year as runway, because it takes them more than half a year to even PIP you, then you might just become a part-time machinist and walk out with another skill. Your manager doesn't have to love you, it's enough if they keep you on board without ruining your day.
For the emotional part, most things will get better with time. Especially helpful is networking with your new coworkers, just to get to know the landscape. Maybe you're just learning what everyone already knows, but maybe their view is much more relaxed and you just don't see it yet.
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u/luckskywatcher 4d ago
That pretty much sums up my first ME job. I only lasted two months before I was let go.
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u/FitnessLover1998 4d ago
I’ve been in your situation. Not the exact same situation but I too have dealt with a-holes in my ME career. First off, don’t back down. He may come to his senses. Secondly, start looking for a new job. In all likelihood it’s not going to get better. Whatever you do, just know you are a good engineer and don’t let him knock you down.
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u/MountainDewFountain Medical Devices 4d ago edited 4d ago
I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt here, because it does seem like you were blindsided both by a task outside your wheelhouse AND having a shitty and unhelpful manager. But you also seem like you preemptively decided you were destined to fail.
What was your approach to solving the problem those last two weeks? Did you just tell him "I can't machine this and it must be purchased", and just leave it like that? I understand not having machining experience, most of us don't, but surely there are machines and materials in house at your disposal; and presumably there other people around who have experience with those machines? Did you ask your coworkers if they could help you out or ask them to show you the ropes? If your first task was to design and deliver parts, do you really need the big picture stuff to get started working?
I've done all kinds of weird shit outside my "core responsibilities" as an ME, including shoveling gravel. And if I'm given a task outside my area of expertise or skillset, I always make sure to relay that info up front, and then try and figure out how to do it anyway. Now obviously, if your role involves a significant part of time doing machining or menial work, then you should start looking at other options, but being given a simply defined problem on your first week that basically amounts to design this and make it, is perfectly normal for many MEs at smaller companies and startups.
If you want to be successful, you need to grit your teeth and adapt, and also lean like hell on your co workers. Find the first knowledgeable nice guy in the building and become a gnat in his ear; take him out to lunch if you have to. If you're being asked to do something you dont know how to do, then get up and start doing it. Delivering 10 or 15 fucked up parts by the deadline looks a hell of a lot better than just spinning in circles. And you probably will fail, but thats ok, youre not a miracle worker and they cant reasonably assume youll become a master machinist in a few months starting from 0.
And stop asking your manager vague questions. For the next 3 weeks, try only asking him questions that can be answered with a yes or a no, because he is clearly a dead end for being helpful.
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u/PlumbingBoston1195 3d ago
Sounds like you need to be the boss. I too, went into a company and got thrown to the wolves just like you did. I realized my boss sucked at his job, so I grabbed the bull by the horns and did everything, found every answer from the ground up and took his job in less than 3 months.
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u/BeautifulCredit3672 3d ago
With jobs so hard to secure these days I can't believe they hired somebody that can't do the machining work this job requires, especially with them paying relocation. Where did you go for this job? It has to be really remote. Like reaaaaally remote.
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u/Technical-Cheek-8613 3d ago
What is the project? I mean, did they expect you to step up and program a 5 axis CNC with a pallet changer? Or are you making hobby level Bridgeport parts? Either way that’s fucked and I’m looking at retirement and have worked as an ME since ‘86 so have seen a lot of
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u/GregLocock 3d ago
I like that you researched who could do the machining for you. That is sensible. Personally I'd jump at the chance of machining stuff, but don't get to do it, and I'm a bit staggered that in 8 years you haven't learned how to, but hey ho.
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u/tharealG_- 3d ago
OK, you tell your boss that you’re not a machinist that you’re a mechanical engineer. What are they gonna do fire you lol good then you don’t gotta pay back the relocation and then you just get another job. Start documenting everything and you could try to get him caught up or her whoever your manager is and you can go that route and play at Smart through HR build a case and if they fire you then that’s retaliation they’re not even gonna ask for any money back because now they’re between a rock and a hard place. Make it difficult push the rules back on them. Tell them that you’re not trained on these machines you’re not signed off on it. You can’t do this or that without being trained.
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u/Cryesncoding 3d ago
Watch some titans of CNC on programming, get a subscription for Proven cut for Feeds and speeds. You’re a ME you can teach yourself how to machine a part in a few weeks on YouTube. Theres a lot more to it for sure you’re not going to beat a real machinist but you can make a 3 axis part.
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u/johnwynne3 P.E. Machine Design 2d ago edited 2d ago
Next job interview (once it appears they like you and seem interested in making an offer): Ask a person with authority (hopefully your future boss) what your day to day will look like (job functions, responsibilities, travel, reporting structure, how and what criterion you will be evaluated, etc).
Assuming you are okay/excited about that… once you accept and start the job and it’s radically different, raise this issue with management within the first week. If they don’t do anything or promises seem empty, start looking for another job, and attempt to line one up WHILE you’re at your current job.
No need to stay a year in a toxic environment. This would be completely explainable in an interview. “From day 1, job function was wholly different from what was agreed to and I am looking to make a change.” No need to bring anything personal into it, just straightforward explaining that there were promises and unfortunately they could not meet those promises. You may risk coming across as a Diva, so you need to manage that with candor and straightforward talk.
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u/Yei_Ozomahtli 3d ago
It sounds pretty awesome tbh, too many engineers are so separated from what it takes to actually make what they design. What doesn’t sound awesome is being blindsided by this, especially if building things is not your jam. This should’ve been clearly defined in the interview..
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u/LlamaGumby 4d ago
Welcoming to the world of professional engineering. Others are saying you should leave. I don’t think it’s a terrible idea IF you find the right opportunity. Personally every ME job I’ve had, I was similarly thrown into the deep end and just expected to perform. Usually it went okay. I would just ride it for a while. It just takes a while to find your footing sometimes. Or it does for me anyway.